For many years BCal looked at the possibility of wide-body aircraft to replace the their 707 fleet. Eventually the McDonnell Douglas DC10 was chosen above the L1011 and 747, and deliveries started in 1977. There would be ten DC10 Series 30 in the main fleet; and three Series 10 in the BCA Charter / Cal Air fleet.

Of the ten Series 30, eight were bought from McDonnell Douglas, with two arriving from the used aircraft market (NIUK and MULL).

BCal sold two DC10s in 1987, they ended up with Continental Airlines but both still flew in regularly to Gatwick. Following the BA merger the eight remaining BCal DC10's were due to be phased out quickly, and the nose docking was soon being dismantled in Hangar 5. But soonafter, based on reliability and utilisation figures, the decision was made by BA to retain BCal's DC10s and they would continue until 2001 in BA service; always based out of Gatwick.

They were all sold into the used aircraft market, many ending up being converted to freighter aircraft where they continued to fly to many parts of the world.

All were well looked after in BCal (and BA) service, but with over a decade in freighter operations, and with some of the fleet nearing 40 years old it was time to find them.

It took a while to find them back in 2013 and some were still in service, though over the years since the remaining aircraft have slowly been retired and broken up........save for 2 that are still in store - though probably unlikely to fly again.